Third baseman Travis Shaw slugged the first two home runs of his major league career and had four RBIs as the Boston Red Sox overcame another shaky start from Joe Kelly in an 11-7 win over the Tampa...

NH veterans group, some state reps calls for approval of Keystone XL Pipeline

Staff

CONCORD — A group of New Hampshire veterans and state representatives say it is time to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline to protect the country’s security.

At a news conference Wednesday, the group called on President Obama and the state’s congressional delegation to approve the proposed,1,179-mile pipeline that stretches from Hardisty, Alberta, Canada, to Steele City, Neb.

The Obama administration has failed to approve the pipeline that would bring oil derived from tar sands from Canada to the United States.

The group, Vets4Energy, believes the project is critical for the country’s energy security.

“The pipeline is in its fifth year of review and every agency or department with some oversight of the project has approved it,” said the group’s New Hampshire leader, retired Marine Sgt. Major Paul Chevalier. “Sadly, political games have stymied the building of the pipeline.”

Environmental groups oppose the pipeline saying it is not needed and would traverse many environmentally sensitive areas.

However, the veterans group said the failure to approve the pipeline is another example of Washington gridlock.

“The government shutdown is the worst illustration of gridlock in Washington,” said Paul Lloyd of the N.H. Veterans of Foreign Wars. “Meanwhile, we have the Keystone XL Pipeline project that is being held up by politics when simple passage will create jobs and, more importantly, increase our economic and energy security.”

The group said its chief concern is the country’s security and making sure that those in uniform serving our country have what they need.